Improvement in curtain-fixtures



J. SHOREY. 'Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures.

No. 132,376. FW# Patented oct. 22,1872.

El@ @mgm v 7 /n J/zor-eg. /m C@ Q1 zrg 2M @www UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN sHOEEY, OE LOWELL, MASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE To HIMSELE AND WILLIAMD. BUTLER, OF PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,376, dated October22, 1872.

resented in the accompanying drawing, of

Figure l denotes a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2, a transversesection of part of alcurtain-roller with my improvement; Fig. 3 is a topview of the spindle separated from the roller or the bearing which is torevolve on such-spindle; Fig. 4. is a front view of the curtain, theroller, and the brackets for support of the latter; and Fig. 5 is a sideview of the spindle-bracket.

The object of the curtain-fixture is to check the rise or fall of thecurtain to any desirable altitude, and it is applicable tocurtain-rollers revolved by a cord as well as to those revolved by aspring,.for the purpose of winding up the curtain. The said inventionconsists in the spindle, as made or provided with a hooked or.dovetailed head, and with a shoulder, and recessed and provided with aball, and with a bearing having a chamber to receive such ball, allbeing as hereinafter described.

In such drawing, A denotes a curtain-roller;

and B, a curtain or window shade fixed thereto and wound about it in theusual way. C is a metallic spindle arranged concentrically in a bearingor head, D, and projected into a shaft, E, extending through thecurtain-roller, and provided with a helical spring, F, for winding upthe roller or revolving it in one direction. One end of the spring is tobe fixed to the shaft and the other to the roller. The head or bearing Dis tenoned into and cemented or glued to the roller, and has formedwithin it a chamber, a, having a depth a little greater than thediameter of a ball, sphere, or roll, b, arranged in such chamber,andalso in the cammed recess c, formed as shown in the spindle. The partl of the bottom of the recess, while the roller is being turned one way,by acting against the ball b when it is in the recess, forces such ballagainstthe side of the chamber and revolution of the curtain-roller. Thepart c, however, of the bottom ofthe recess serves as a cam to throw theball up into the chamber when the roller is revolved in the oppositeway. On turning the roller in one direcstops tion, the recess, ball, andchamber will operate to stop it 5 but on revolving it in the oppositedirection they will not stop it, as the ball will be thrown out of therecess and wholly into the chamber.

When the curtain is being drawn down the chambered head turns with theroller on the spindle, which is stationary. The ball will be carriedaround With the head until the ball may be brought over the cavity inthe spindle, when it will drop abouthalf its depth thereon. The upperhalf being extended up into the chamber in the head will stop the rollerfrom turning back. In order to cause the curtain or shade to be rolledup, it should be pulled downward a little, so as to cause the cam of therecess in the spindle to force the ball up into the chamber. Then, bya1- lowing the spring to act and carry up the curtain quickly, the ballwill be maintained in the chamber until the velocity of thecurtain-roller becomes retarded sufiiciently for the ball to fall downinto the recess in the spindle, and, when it does so, the recess, theball, and the chamber will stop the curtainroller from turning back.

The advantage of the curtain-fixture is that the ball, or its equivalentrolling body, will roll to position, and thereby act with littlefriction and wear. It is also concealed from view and protected fromdust and lint. It cannot be tampered with, and is not easy to get out oforder. By the spindle having a wooden bearing running upon it, little orno noise results while the curtain-roller is in operation.

The spindle is dovetailed or hooked, as shown at h, where it rests inthe notch t' of the supportingbracket. This, with the shoulder k of thespindle, prevents the opposite end of the curtain-roller from beingforced against the next adjacent bracket so as to work with friction onsuch.

I make no claim to merely providing the spindle With an cammed recess, aball, and the ball and the bearing, having a chamber, all bearing withall chamber to receive the ball, substantially as speeied.

under circumstances as sta-ted. JOHN SHOREY.

I claim- The spindle, as made or provided with the Witnesses:

hooked or dovetailed head h, and the shoul- R. H. EDDY,

der k, and recessed and provided with the S. N. PIPER.

